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<blockquote data-quote="Jon Potter" data-source="post: 4849858" data-attributes="member: 2323"><p><strong>[PLAIN][Interludes #14] Revelations at the Gate[/PLAIN]</strong></p><p></p><p>“Grandfather Plaque??" the holy warrior gaped. "Is that you?” The stone face smiled warmly.</p><p></p><p>"Indeed it is. It's good to see a familiar face in such a vast emptiness as this," the construct mused. " It's funny, I spent years in a forgotten shrine imprisoned in the dark behind a brick wall. But all this... nothing .. is worse, somehow!" Ayremac nodded compassionately.</p><p></p><p>"May I approach?" he asked and Grandfather Plaque looked thoughtful.</p><p></p><p>"I suppose so," he announced after a moment. "My instructions were to repeat the message I gave you and to keep interlopers from breaching the gate. I see no reason why I can't visit a bit with an old friend." Ayremac drifted closer until he was less than 10 feet from the doors and the graven face.</p><p></p><p>“Grandfather Plaque, I bring friends in peace," he said as he moved, motioning for them to draw slowly nearer as he did so.</p><p></p><p>"Well I don't wish to speak too ill of my new masters, but I dare say that you'll find little peace hereabouts," the stone face told him. "The githyanki are a bit sword-happy if you take my meaning."</p><p></p><p>"You have new masters?" the Officer of Umba observed. "Do you still travel with the party? Are they inside?” Grandfather Plaque looked discomfited at that and his eyes roved around for something to look at other than Ayremac.</p><p></p><p>"Well... two of them are," the construct admitted after a moment. "I tried to bargain for their release, but... but... the githyanki tricked me."</p><p></p><p>"What do you mean?" Ayremac asked and Grandfather Plaque sighed.</p><p></p><p>"I offered my services as guardian in exchange for the others' release," the construct said. "Not a bad station, warding such a grand door in such an exotic locale, I thought. And they were going to kill them otherwise, I just knew it."</p><p></p><p>"So what happened?" Ixin asked and Grandfather Plaque flicked his eyes toward her.</p><p></p><p>"Oh, hello," he said congenially. "I don't believe we've met."</p><p></p><p>"Yes, we have," she said. "I'm Ixin." The construct squinted at her.</p><p></p><p>"Nooo..." he said, drawing out the syllable as he appraised her. "I never forget a face. Ixin looked quite a bit different with-" Ayremac cut him off.</p><p></p><p>"It is Ixin. She was reincarnated," the Officer of Umba explained succinctly and Grandfather Plaque's face took on an expression of exaggerated awe.</p><p></p><p>"How terribly interesting," he said. "You simply must tell me all about it. Right after you explain how it is that you came OUT of my first door without ever going IN."</p><p></p><p>"Grandfather Plaque!" Ayremac said firmly, drawing the construct's attention back to him. "I don't mean to be rude, but you were telling me about what happened to the party."</p><p></p><p>"Oh yes! Sorry," the face smacked its stony lips. "I made my offer to become a part of Avik-tchai and they agreed to let one of them go in exchange for such a deal. And I thought that one was better than none so I agreed."</p><p></p><p>"Who did they release?" Ayremac asked.</p><p></p><p>"Well, I hoped it would be Morier," Grandfather Plaque admitted. "He was always nice. A bit morose, perhaps, but at least he didn't keep suggesting that they stuff me inside the Handy Haversack when he didn't like what I had to say, like Saelus!"</p><p></p><p>"Who's Saelus?" Ayremac asked. "I don't know him."</p><p></p><p>"A military man, I believe," the construct told him. "War wizard, or some such. Uniform, shiny boots... quite dapper really. But also quite rude! So I was glad to see that they didn't let him go in exchange for my vigilance."</p><p></p><p>"Who did they release?" Ixin asked. "Shamalin? Huzair?" Grandfather Plaque looked at her sadly.</p><p></p><p>"Noxin told me that they were both dead," the construct said glumly.</p><p></p><p>"What!?" Ayremac exclaimed. "Shamalin's dead?" A cyclone of emotions whirled inside him, but before he could even begin to make sense of them Grandfather Plaque hit him with another revelation.</p><p></p><p>"They released Dr. Akerman," the stone face said dejectedly.</p><p></p><p>"Akerman?!" the Officer of Umba snapped. "What were they doing traveling with that parasite?"</p><p></p><p>"Well, they weren't actually traveling with him," the face said. "He sort of lured them here... into a trap to get some sword that Morier had." Ixin and Ayremac exchanged a glance.</p><p></p><p>"A sword?" the sorcerer asked. "What sword?"</p><p></p><p>"I don't know..." Grandfather Plaque admitted. "Some big ugly thing with a jagged blade..."</p><p></p><p>"Ravager," Ixin said shaking her head. "It's been in the party for a long time. Draelond used to carry it. Then Ledare had it. Morier must have taken it after she was killed." Del drifted forward at the mention of Ledare.</p><p></p><p>"This is all fascinating stuff. But it isn't getting us anywhere," he said before turning his attention to Grandfather Plaque. "You mentioned a trial. What is that all about?"</p><p></p><p>"Well, Morier and Saelus killed a few githyanki before they were captured," the stone face told him. "They are on trial for murder."</p><p></p><p>"I can imagine the kind of law that would govern in this place," Del mused, thinking of Grawl. "I fear they will get no fair trial here." Ayremac seemed to agree with the half-elf's assessment; his jaw clenched angrily.</p><p></p><p>"When he left, Akerman told me it was to be a trial by combat," Grandfather Plaque explained. "Morier is to fight Saelus to the death... with the winner going free."</p><p></p><p>"How is that justice?" Ayremac shouted, his hand straying to the handle of his longsword. Ixin drifted closer and put a staying hand on his arm. He took a cleansing breath and nodded to her. When he spoke, his voice was restrained, calm, even. "This is a mockery of law, Grandfather Plaque. You must realize this."</p><p></p><p>"I fear that the only law here is that of Gisir Okemocik," the stone face admitted sadly. "He rules Avik-tchai and the githyanki obey him unflinchingly. He is the law here."</p><p></p><p>"Where I go, Umba's law goes with me," Ayremac assured him, the holy warrior's ire rising slowly again. But he retained his composure when he asked, "Can you allow us to enter?"</p><p></p><p>"Oh, no!" Grandfather Plaque said hurriedly. "My orders were very clear."</p><p></p><p>"Your orders!?" Ayremac shot back, visibly angered once more. "Our friends are in danger in there and you worry about following orders?" Grandfather Plaque looked nervously around at the assemblage, his eyes flicking meaningfully to the longsword at Ayremac's hip.</p><p></p><p>"A bargain was struck! My services for a prisoner's freedom," the construct explained. "True, the deal was not the one I intended, but I agreed to the letter of the agreement and the githyanki adhered to that. I am bound by my oath. Surely you understand that." Ayremac opened his mouth to speak, but Maleko slid forward to cut him off.</p><p></p><p>"One time we were traveling with the caravan up the Coast Highway toward Hillsburg. We passed an apple orchard where a farmer was working. Our team leader yelled to the man, 'How much for a barrel of apples for me and my men?' He replied 'Five gold pieces for a barrel of any of the apples off of these trees.' We got a barrel and loaded it up," Maleko recounted. "A little way down the road we opened them and they all were rotten. We sent a man back to ask him for another barrel. The farmer replied 'I said for any apple of those trees. Those apples were off of those trees. I will not give you more apples, dandelion eater!' Is that contract fair?"</p><p></p><p>"Well... um... It does not sound fair," replied Grandfather Plaque thoughtfully and the elf nodded. </p><p></p><p>"It was deceptive - like yours was. Akerman is the rotten apple. You should not be obliged to honor this," Maleko went passionately on. "Now, it was not worth fighting for apples, but a life is at stake and you must let us in. A code of honor among merchants was broken in our case. A world may be broken if you do not help us."</p><p></p><p>"You can be instrumental in righting the wrongs that have been done," Del added.</p><p></p><p>"It is never too late to start anew," Ixin suggested. "Take it from one well acquainted with new beginnings."</p><p></p><p>"You were meant for greater gates than this," Del said, relentlessly laying on arguments until it seemed at last that the stone face was convinced.</p><p></p><p>"I WANT to help you. Really, I do," Grandfather Plaque said. "It's just that... I... I don't want to see any more of my friends get killed. And that's what will happen if I let you storm in there. I haven't been deeper into the outpost than the mooring platform beyond this door, but I know that there are dozens of githyanki in Avik-tchai. Dozens! All of them are ready and willing to take up arms against you. Many of them are spellcasters as well. It's folly."</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Jon Potter, post: 4849858, member: 2323"] [b][PLAIN][Interludes #14] Revelations at the Gate[/PLAIN][/b] “Grandfather Plaque??" the holy warrior gaped. "Is that you?” The stone face smiled warmly. "Indeed it is. It's good to see a familiar face in such a vast emptiness as this," the construct mused. " It's funny, I spent years in a forgotten shrine imprisoned in the dark behind a brick wall. But all this... nothing .. is worse, somehow!" Ayremac nodded compassionately. "May I approach?" he asked and Grandfather Plaque looked thoughtful. "I suppose so," he announced after a moment. "My instructions were to repeat the message I gave you and to keep interlopers from breaching the gate. I see no reason why I can't visit a bit with an old friend." Ayremac drifted closer until he was less than 10 feet from the doors and the graven face. “Grandfather Plaque, I bring friends in peace," he said as he moved, motioning for them to draw slowly nearer as he did so. "Well I don't wish to speak too ill of my new masters, but I dare say that you'll find little peace hereabouts," the stone face told him. "The githyanki are a bit sword-happy if you take my meaning." "You have new masters?" the Officer of Umba observed. "Do you still travel with the party? Are they inside?” Grandfather Plaque looked discomfited at that and his eyes roved around for something to look at other than Ayremac. "Well... two of them are," the construct admitted after a moment. "I tried to bargain for their release, but... but... the githyanki tricked me." "What do you mean?" Ayremac asked and Grandfather Plaque sighed. "I offered my services as guardian in exchange for the others' release," the construct said. "Not a bad station, warding such a grand door in such an exotic locale, I thought. And they were going to kill them otherwise, I just knew it." "So what happened?" Ixin asked and Grandfather Plaque flicked his eyes toward her. "Oh, hello," he said congenially. "I don't believe we've met." "Yes, we have," she said. "I'm Ixin." The construct squinted at her. "Nooo..." he said, drawing out the syllable as he appraised her. "I never forget a face. Ixin looked quite a bit different with-" Ayremac cut him off. "It is Ixin. She was reincarnated," the Officer of Umba explained succinctly and Grandfather Plaque's face took on an expression of exaggerated awe. "How terribly interesting," he said. "You simply must tell me all about it. Right after you explain how it is that you came OUT of my first door without ever going IN." "Grandfather Plaque!" Ayremac said firmly, drawing the construct's attention back to him. "I don't mean to be rude, but you were telling me about what happened to the party." "Oh yes! Sorry," the face smacked its stony lips. "I made my offer to become a part of Avik-tchai and they agreed to let one of them go in exchange for such a deal. And I thought that one was better than none so I agreed." "Who did they release?" Ayremac asked. "Well, I hoped it would be Morier," Grandfather Plaque admitted. "He was always nice. A bit morose, perhaps, but at least he didn't keep suggesting that they stuff me inside the Handy Haversack when he didn't like what I had to say, like Saelus!" "Who's Saelus?" Ayremac asked. "I don't know him." "A military man, I believe," the construct told him. "War wizard, or some such. Uniform, shiny boots... quite dapper really. But also quite rude! So I was glad to see that they didn't let him go in exchange for my vigilance." "Who did they release?" Ixin asked. "Shamalin? Huzair?" Grandfather Plaque looked at her sadly. "Noxin told me that they were both dead," the construct said glumly. "What!?" Ayremac exclaimed. "Shamalin's dead?" A cyclone of emotions whirled inside him, but before he could even begin to make sense of them Grandfather Plaque hit him with another revelation. "They released Dr. Akerman," the stone face said dejectedly. "Akerman?!" the Officer of Umba snapped. "What were they doing traveling with that parasite?" "Well, they weren't actually traveling with him," the face said. "He sort of lured them here... into a trap to get some sword that Morier had." Ixin and Ayremac exchanged a glance. "A sword?" the sorcerer asked. "What sword?" "I don't know..." Grandfather Plaque admitted. "Some big ugly thing with a jagged blade..." "Ravager," Ixin said shaking her head. "It's been in the party for a long time. Draelond used to carry it. Then Ledare had it. Morier must have taken it after she was killed." Del drifted forward at the mention of Ledare. "This is all fascinating stuff. But it isn't getting us anywhere," he said before turning his attention to Grandfather Plaque. "You mentioned a trial. What is that all about?" "Well, Morier and Saelus killed a few githyanki before they were captured," the stone face told him. "They are on trial for murder." "I can imagine the kind of law that would govern in this place," Del mused, thinking of Grawl. "I fear they will get no fair trial here." Ayremac seemed to agree with the half-elf's assessment; his jaw clenched angrily. "When he left, Akerman told me it was to be a trial by combat," Grandfather Plaque explained. "Morier is to fight Saelus to the death... with the winner going free." "How is that justice?" Ayremac shouted, his hand straying to the handle of his longsword. Ixin drifted closer and put a staying hand on his arm. He took a cleansing breath and nodded to her. When he spoke, his voice was restrained, calm, even. "This is a mockery of law, Grandfather Plaque. You must realize this." "I fear that the only law here is that of Gisir Okemocik," the stone face admitted sadly. "He rules Avik-tchai and the githyanki obey him unflinchingly. He is the law here." "Where I go, Umba's law goes with me," Ayremac assured him, the holy warrior's ire rising slowly again. But he retained his composure when he asked, "Can you allow us to enter?" "Oh, no!" Grandfather Plaque said hurriedly. "My orders were very clear." "Your orders!?" Ayremac shot back, visibly angered once more. "Our friends are in danger in there and you worry about following orders?" Grandfather Plaque looked nervously around at the assemblage, his eyes flicking meaningfully to the longsword at Ayremac's hip. "A bargain was struck! My services for a prisoner's freedom," the construct explained. "True, the deal was not the one I intended, but I agreed to the letter of the agreement and the githyanki adhered to that. I am bound by my oath. Surely you understand that." Ayremac opened his mouth to speak, but Maleko slid forward to cut him off. "One time we were traveling with the caravan up the Coast Highway toward Hillsburg. We passed an apple orchard where a farmer was working. Our team leader yelled to the man, 'How much for a barrel of apples for me and my men?' He replied 'Five gold pieces for a barrel of any of the apples off of these trees.' We got a barrel and loaded it up," Maleko recounted. "A little way down the road we opened them and they all were rotten. We sent a man back to ask him for another barrel. The farmer replied 'I said for any apple of those trees. Those apples were off of those trees. I will not give you more apples, dandelion eater!' Is that contract fair?" "Well... um... It does not sound fair," replied Grandfather Plaque thoughtfully and the elf nodded. "It was deceptive - like yours was. Akerman is the rotten apple. You should not be obliged to honor this," Maleko went passionately on. "Now, it was not worth fighting for apples, but a life is at stake and you must let us in. A code of honor among merchants was broken in our case. A world may be broken if you do not help us." "You can be instrumental in righting the wrongs that have been done," Del added. "It is never too late to start anew," Ixin suggested. "Take it from one well acquainted with new beginnings." "You were meant for greater gates than this," Del said, relentlessly laying on arguments until it seemed at last that the stone face was convinced. "I WANT to help you. Really, I do," Grandfather Plaque said. "It's just that... I... I don't want to see any more of my friends get killed. And that's what will happen if I let you storm in there. I haven't been deeper into the outpost than the mooring platform beyond this door, but I know that there are dozens of githyanki in Avik-tchai. Dozens! All of them are ready and willing to take up arms against you. Many of them are spellcasters as well. It's folly." [/QUOTE]
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